Increase in mesolimbic electrical self-stimulation after chronic haloperidol: reversal by L-DOPA or lithium.
After chronic neuroleptic drug treatment, an increase in electrical intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) rate is seen from electrodes in the A10 dopaminergic nucleus. This increase, which persists for approximately 3 weeks following drug withdrawal, is believed to represent a behavioral manifestation of drug-induced dopaminergic synaptic supersensitivity. Chronic L-DOPA caused a partial reversal of haloperidol-induced ICSS increase. Lithium carbonate, given concurrently with the haloperidol, partially prevented the development of ICSS supersensitivity. It is concluded that dopaminergic synaptic sensitivity has a two-way modulatory capability.
D000818:Animals; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D007980:Levodopa; D008094:Lithium; D006220:Haloperidol; D002230:Carbidopa